The Becket Athenaeum

It is through your generosity that we are able to keep our programs and services 100% free. Please consider making a donation today. The Becket Athenaeum is a 501(c)3 non profit organization.

STAFFJodi Shafiroff, DirectorEllen Manley, Librarian

Dawn Greene, Catalog Specialist

Drea Pecor, Bookkeeper

Jerry Greene

BOARD OF TRUSTEESPurr McEwen, ChairAaron Beatty, Vice Chair

Bob Gross, Treasurer

Cathy DeFoe

Katherine Hoak

Denise Johns

Allison MikaniewiczJan Nelson

Liz Oakes

Tuesday - 1:00-7:00pmWednesday - 3:00-7:00pm​

SUMMER

10:00AM-2:00PmThursday - 1:00-7:00pmSaturday - 10:00am-4:00pM

HOURS OF OPERATION

WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Becket Athenaeum is more than a library. It is a living, breathing, center of community involvement and engagement, predicated on the notion that when a community’s needs are revealed, particularly in small, rural areas, it is the responsibility of institutions like libraries to harness the community’s existing strengths and create a space and a haven to meet the revealed needs. All of the library programs and services are offered free of charge and have been carefully researched, developed and implemented based on the real, documented needs of the community.

Offers staff-assisted access to a fax machine and printer/copier. A small fee of 15¢ per side is charged for printing. There is no fee to send faxes though donations are gladly accepted.

Participates in MassCat, a small library network, making our entire catalogue available online for patrons to search and place holds. When your items arrive at the Athenaeum, we will inform you via phone or email.

Hosts a Small Business Lab with professional web design and graphic design software and diverse multimedia resources, for local entrepreneurs

Engaged in a long-term archive organization and digitization process to preserve important historic documents and artifacts related to the history of Becket

COMMUNITY

Worked collaboratively with the Becket and Washington communities to create a short term (5-year) and long term (20-year) plan for the library based on stated needs of the communities

Coordinates an active volunteer program with over 100 volunteers donating more than 1000 hours per year, along with material donations to support programming

Offers four (4) paid internships each school year to high school age students; each internship runs 12 weeks, pays $500 and teaches the basics of library operation while catering to individual interests or career goals

Developed a partnership with the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA; they provide a discounted rate for summer day camp and the Athenaeum secured grant funding for the balance of the cost in order to send 25 students enrolled in the ACE and Friday Enrichment programs to day camp for free for two weeks

GROWTH

Implementing a multi-year, grant-funded, Community Preservation Act (CPA) funded and town funded capital improvement plan, modernizing, restoring and repairing the interior and exterior of the building while maintaining its historical integrity

Providing a weekly story and STEAM activity time for preschool-aged children, exposing children and families to local resources (Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, yoga, quilting, anthropology, music and much more)

Expanding partnership with local YMCA to include leadership training for High Hopes participants

Expanding partnership with local elementary, middle and high schools related to the Homework Helpers and High Hopes program

Increasing usable space in the library for patrons and staff through grant-funded addition of loft and other capital improvements.

Engaged in a series of grant-funded strategic planning workshops for the Board of Trustees and Library Director involving governance, fundraising, public relations and board recruitment